SK Brann and FK Haugesund

Brann and  Haugesund

SK Brann are the biggest club from Norway's second biggest city, Bergen. Three time champions of the Norwegian top flight, their most recent success came in 2007. 

The second highest supported club in Norway behind Rosenborg, expectations are often high for Brann, and last season was a real disappointment, finishing down in 9th place.

Brann Stadion holds 17'686 and has been home since 1919, although recent rebuilding of three stands, means it is almost like a new stadium. Once the fourth stand is finished, capacity will be up to 20'000.

Last season goalscoring was a real problem, with only 32 goals in the league, only Sarpsborg scoring less(30). Dauda Bamba was top scorer in the league with just 7 goals, so they will need more from him this year, and someone else will need to step up to get in to double figures.

Managed by Lars Arne Nilsen since 2015, they have always been one of the strongest defensive units, and tend to concede fewer goals than the majority of the league. 

But their inability to score enough last year meant they couldn't get out of mid table. Only twice did they score more than two goals in a game, never at home.

Business in the winter window hasn't been exciting, and with an ageing core of important players, will Brann be able to improve on last season is one of the big questions at the start of the season. Losing probably their best defender in Vito Wormgoor, who has joined Columbus Crew, will be a hole to fill in defense.


Key Players

Fredrik Haugen

Last season was an injury struck campaign for midfielder Fredrik Haugen, the 2018 player of the season for Brann. So this season he will be looking to get back to the form of two years ago.

The hard working midfielder has played over 200 games for the club, and his energy in midfield was missed for the majority of last season. 

Never one to shy away from a tackle, he covers a lot of ground defensively and also joins in with attacks, often from an inside right position. He is comfortable on the ball and looks to keep the ball ticking over, and often finds himself in good positions on the right hand side where he can pick out a cross


Top scorer last season, Daouda Bamba, has been a bit of an issue for Brann since his NOK 9 million move from Kristiansund. A four game suspension for an elbow was one problem, but internally he has also broken some club rules and Brann had been trying to recoup the money they paid for the striker.

Daouda Bamba

They have been unable to, and now they might need him to score the goals that they paid the money for in the first place. He no doubt has the ability to do that, with 7 in 19 games last season a decent return.

The focal point in attack, he is strong and has an eye for goal. I don't think his movement is great, but he is quick and knows where the net is, and doesn't find himself too far from goal too often doing most of his work in the middle of the final third.

Another player who should score more goals is Gilbert Koomson. He starts wide on the right but drifts in to the middle to join Bamba, allowing Haugen and right back Taijo Teniste to get forward on the right hand side. He is by no means prolific, but 2 league goals last season was not a good enough return, look for him to get a few more this season.

The signing that is likely to have the biggest impact is Robert Taylor. Relegated with Tromsø last season, he remains in Eliteserien and the Finish international should be a good foil for Bamba from the left hand side.

Taylor plays as an inverted winger from the left and is a technical player that can pick out a good cross, he should be ideal for an aerial threat like Bamba.

Last season was a real step down from 2018, but with the return of Haugen full time, and hopefully Bamba playing near 30 games, they should be further up the table this time, although I don't think they have enough quality to challenge the top two.

Prediction - 5th

Last seasons beaten cup finalists Haugesund come into their 11th consecutive season in Eliteserien having become a regular in the top flight. The defeat in the final last season by their rivals Viking was a real blow, but it was another relatively successful season.

Seventh place in the league was added to with wins over Cliftonville and Sturm Graz in the Europa League, losing out narrowly by 1 goal to PSV Eindhoven in the third qualifying round.

Based in Haugesund, just north of Stavanger and a few hours south of Bergen, they play in Haugesund Stadium which was built exactly 100 years ago, although has been recently expanded to 8'754 capacity.

Last season it was goals that was the main problem, with six goals each from midfielders Martin Samuelsen and Niklas Sandberg top scoring in the league. Samuelsen was on loan from West Ham and won't be here in 2020, and they will need some of their forward players to be more regularly finding the net.

Senegalese striker Ibrahima Wadji had scored four in the first 10 games in the league, but he tested positive for morphine after a game in May last year, and was given a 14 month ban. Despite that, Haugesund have stuck by him and will be hoping when he returns in the summer that he can be the one to score the goals to push them up the table.

One of their star players from last season, Sondre Tronstad has left to go to Vitesse in The Netherlands, the central midfielder was ever present in the heart of midfield and really set the tempo from there, he will be missed.


Key Players

Last winter saw the arrival of central defender Benjamin Tiedemann Hansen from Nordsjælland in Denmark. It was the best signing of the season for FKH as he went on to play every game and was a real presence at central defense. 

A real leader, he is a captain in waiting and will be a crucial part of the back line again in 2020.

He didn't have a regular partner to play with all season last year, but interestingly, 20 year old Ulrik Fredriksen has come in from Sogndal, after 2 good years in OBOS-ligaen, he could well be the one to partner up with Tiedemann.

Another arrival in the winter last year was Niklas Sandberg. Unfortunately an injury early on meant he didn't play as many games as he should have, but towards the end of the season he looked like a real good player.

The left footed wide man usually comes in off the right, and he is technically very accomplished. He takes set pieces and penalties and will likely have a big influence on Haugesund's goalscoring abilities.

They lost only one of their last 11 games, the team looking much better with Sandberg in it.

The goalscoring has to come from someone, and FKH have brought in a couple of guys on loan, although neither I think will be the top scorer come the end of the season. Former Dundee man, Benjamin Kallman, is in on loan from Inter Turku, also youngster Alexander Amitzbøll on loan from AGF in Denmark might be one to keep an eye on.

Kristoffer Velde

For me though, a youngster at the club might be ready to push on this year, and that is Kristoffer Velde. The 20 year old scored 4 league goals last term, making 26 appearances, although 15 of them were off the bench. 

Although he usually plays on the wing, he could be the main goal threat for this team from the left hand side, and I am backing him to have a breakthrough year.

Amitzbøll is an interesting one who clearly is very talented. The tall striker is yet to make his breakthrough at Aarhus in Denmark, but at 21 a loan move might be what he needs to kick start his career. He looks strong and quick enough, he could be a threat in Eliteserien.

Captain and former Norwegian international Christian Grindheim deserves a mention. Now 36 years old, the 54 time capped midfielder is going for another season. He played 28 league games last season, and it will be interesting to see how his legs hold up this. 

His game is based a lot around hard work and tough tackling, although obviously he has quality too. With games likely coming more regularly, this might be a year he doesn't have such an important role to play. 

Prediction - 7th

Aalesunds FK and Kristiansund BK

There has obviously been a delay to the season in Norway, and I took some time out before getting going again, but before I start on the preview, there has been a slight change to how the season will run.

The clubs have been split into four geographical groups, and the four teams in each group will play each other home and away first. After those six games each, hopefully things will be a bit easier and restrictions lifted some more, meaning the rest of the season can be completed.

The plan is for every club to play 30 games as normal, and the season to be finished before Christmas.

Here are the four groups below that will see home and away fixtures to begin with, and as I have already previewed Molde and Rosenborg, I will continue today with a look at Aalesunds and Kristiansund.

Gruppe A: Rosenborg, Molde, Kristiansund og Aalesund

Gruppe B: Brann, Haugesund, Viking, Bodø/Glimt

Gruppe C: Start, Odd, Sandefjord, Strømsgodset

Gruppe D: Mjøndalen, Stabæk, Vålerenga og Sarpsborg 08

Color Line Stadion opened in 2005

Aalesunds FK return to Eliteserien in 2020 after two years in OBOS-ligaen. They were runaway champions last year in the second tier, winning 25 of 30 games, losing only once. They won every game at their home ground, the picturesque Color Line Stadion, with arguably one of the best views in world football from inside the ground.

Motherwell fans might be familiar with the surroundings after they visited in the 2010 Europa League, emerging comfortably victorious over two legs.

Manager of the club is former Norwegian international and English Premier League player, Lars Bohinen. He took over before the 2018 season, and after losing out on promotion through the playoffs in 2018, masterminded the impressive season last year.

They should be in a good position to make a good impression on Eliteserien this year having kept most of the squad together, although two players will be missed.

Pape Habib Gueye scored 13 league goals last year, the second top scorer at the club, and has moved to Kortrijk in Beligum. Also, Icelandic international Aron Elís Þrándarson has moved to OB in Denmark. His creativity in midfield will have to be replaced if they are to continue their goalscoring form from last year, an impressive 67 goals from 30 games.

Key Players 

The star of Aalesunds, and possibly even OBOS-ligaen last year was Norwegian born Chilean, Niklas Castro. The diminuitive forward can play all across the front line or in advanced midfield roles and is one to look out for this season. 

Very comfortable on the ball, an excellent crosser and finisher, he could be ready to take Eliteserien by storm this year. He appears all over the pitch, assisting and scoring goals in equal measure. He finished second in both the assist charts(11) and goalscoring charts(17) last season, and at 24 years old his form and skill sets should transfer nicely to Eliteserien.

It was clear last year he had become too good for the second tier, and this year will be a big chance for him to shine at the top level and potentially earn a more lucrative deal elsewhere.

A crucial player last year in defense was recently capped Icelandic international, Daníel Leó Grétarsson. The centre back was in his first injury free season with Aalesunds, and he was in great form all season. He can be a threat from corners, and is strong in the tackle, but what really stands out is his ability for long passes with his left foot. He loves taking the ball from the keeper and has great range in his passing, often turning defense into attack.

Another player who is just 24 years old, and someone who Aalesunds can rely on to make the step up to Eliteserien a successful one as they can build their defense around him.

Of the winter signings Aalesunds have done, there are two that interest me most. First is Simen Bolkan Nordli, signed from HamKam. The 20 year old scored 12 goals in OBOS last year, and although he is more of a deep lying forward, it will be interesting if he fits in to the system. He isn't particularly quick, but is very comfortable dribbling the ball and taking it in areas surrounded by defenders. 

Possibly he will be used as a substitute first off, with more experienced front men, Torbjørn Agdestein(ex Inverness) and Holmbert Friðjónsson(ex Celtic) ahead of him in the queue.

The other interesting signing, is former QPR and Crystal Palace player, among others, Jordon Mutch. The former England youth international no doubt had the talent to play at the top level, but he hasn't played a full season of football since 2013/14 with Cardiff City.

If Aalesunds can get a fit Mutch, he is a very creative player, has lots of experience from the English Premier League and Championship, and could be an incredible signing. But it remains to be seen if he can keep his fitness. Maybe the beautiful surroundings of Ålesund can revive his career, at just 28 years old, there is still time.

Aalesunds can take momentum from last season and I expect they won't be in relegation trouble. Castro is one to keep and eye on, and although they have Molde and RBK to play first up, they are dangerous at home, and will be tough to beat in Color Line Stadion.

Prediction - 9th

Kristiansund BK are the newest club in the top flight of Norwegian football, and also the least experienced. Formed in 2003 with the merge between Kristiansund FK and Clausenengen FK, and supported by the local bank, Kristiansund have gained three promotions and will be playing their fourth season in a row in Eliteserien.

They have been a real surprise package in the top tier, finishing 7th in their debut season in 2017, before a 5th placed finish in 2018, and following it up last year with a solid 6th place.

Led by former player and local lad Christian Michelsen since 2014, they rely on a strong team ethic and goals from all over the pitch. 

Worryingly this winter they have lost two of their most influential players. Winger Torgil Øwre Gjertsen, who has moved to Wisla Plock in Poland, and also strong midfielder Amidou Diop. Diop was a driving force from midfield, and also strong defensively from his central position, him moving to Adanaspor in Turkey will be hard to replace.

Gjertsen is a tricky and quick winger who has been a real creative force for KBK since joining in 2017 from Ranheim. A hole will need to be filled on the left hand side as a result of him leaving, and KBK will have to step up again if they are going to finish in the top half.

Key Players
Amahl Pellegrino was signed from Strømsgodset in the summer last year after an 18 month spell that saw only 4 league goals. To then go on and score 8 goals in 10 games for KBK was a real surprise, and with confidence high he looked a completely different player.

Tall and quick, he loves to get in behind the defense, and it was noticeable how most of his goals in 2019 came. Cutting in from the left side and finishing in to the far corner with his right foot became something of a trademark for Pellegrino, and it will be interesting to see if he can continue that form into the new season. 

His record over the years suggests otherwise, but with confidence high and a system that suited him, maybe Kristiansund is where he can finally become a regular goalscorer at the top level.

Irish goalkeeper Sean McDermott is not a name many will have heard of back in the UK, although he did start his senior career at Arsenal, he moved back to Norway in 2012 where he was born. He has been number one in Kristiansund since 2017, after a short spell in OBOS-ligaen with Ull/Kisa . 

The former Irish under 21 international is one of the best stoppers in the league, and is part of a strong defensive unit, containing the strong and aggressive Aliou Coly and Christophe Psyche, and also the experienced head of Dan Peter Ulvestad. 

McDermott is determined to earn himself a place in the Irish squad, and at 26, another good year behind him in Eliteserien he could be on the radar for one of the 3 spaces in the squad and perhaps a move to a bigger club.

Winter signings have not been very inspiring, although there is one I am personally interested in. 21 year old Ethiopian born Horenus Taddese has signed from my local club Levanger. He is someone I know personally having played briefly with him as he was coming through the youth system at Verdal. 

Full of energy and drive from midfield, he is someone that really impressed for Levanger in OBOS-ligaen in 2018. He spent 2019 also with Levanger, but now makes the step up to Eliteserien.

A very strong runner, he is also aggressive in the tackle and comfortable on the ball in the middle of the park. 

It will be interesting to see how he gets on with the step up and a change of scenery after three years in Levanger.

KBK have exceeded expectations with their team spirit and work ethic the last 3 years, but I find it difficult to see how they can again defy expectations and finish in the top half. It will be a tougher season for them I think, although they won't be in any relegation trouble, and should battle with rivals Aalesunds for a mid table spot.

Prediction - 10th

Bodø/Glimt and Rosenborg

Last years surprise package were definitely Bodø/Glimt, ending their joint best ever season in 2nd place. With their qualification to the Europa League confirmed, it will be the first time they have played European football since being beaten by Besiktas in 2004.

Now the only Eliteserien team in the North of Norway, they will be hoping to use other teams travelling to their advantage, and make Aspmyra Stadion a fortress.

Unfortunately with last years success comes the inevitable loss of their star players. This winter has seen the leagues best player in 2019, and Glimt's top scorer, Håkon Evjen, leaving for AZ Alkmaar.

Also leaving Aspmyra Stadion is their number 1 goalkeeper, Brazilian Ricardo Friedrich, who has moved to Turkey to play for Ankaragucu. Midfielder Vegard Molberg has left to join Silkeborg in Denmark, and first choice right back Erlend Dahl Reitan has returned to Rosenborg after a successful loan spell.

They weren't quite as strong towards the end of the season, after leading Eliteserien at the summer break, they lost striker Amor Layouni, who had scored 10 goals in 21 games, before he left to go t Pyramids FC in Egypt in September.

All these first team starters leaving means that coach of the year from 2019, Kjetil Knudsen will be in for a tough job to repeat second place.


Key Players

Left back Fredrik Andre Bjørkan played every game but one last season, the 21 year old making a big impression as an attacking outlet in his first full season as a Bodø starter. He is quick, comfortable going inside and outside, and was a big part of Glimt's attacking moves.

He contributed 5 assists and 3 goals, which is a nice return for his first season, and now with experience of that I expect him to push on this year and become potentially the best left back in the division.

Jens Petter Hauge

With the two top scorers leaving, it means the goals will have to come from elsewhere of course. They scored 64 last season, seven of them were from Jens Petter Hauge. The 20 year old can play on either wing, and also in an advanced midfield role. 

This season he should be looking to reach double figures in goals, and I think he could be a really crucial player for Glimt. He is comfortable on both feet, so can go inside and outside on both sides, but does most of his best work cutting in. He assists and scores goals, but this season he could well be the main attacking threat, and he is one of the young players who could be looking to earn a move by the end of 2020.

The two other goal threats could come from young Nigerian Victor Boniface, but more likely it will be Danish striker Kasper Junker. He scored 6 in 12 for Stabæk last season, helping to move them safely to mid table after he joined in August. Glimt will be hoping he can continue that form.

Also arriving after a successful loan at Stabæk, is Sammy Skytte. Along with new signing Morten Konradsen from Rosenborg, who is back at the club after two years in Trondheim, these two have added good depth to the midfield, and Bodø/Glimt should be strong in that department

Philip Zinckernagel

The main creative force for Glimt is still at the club, it's 25 year old Dane, Philip Zinckernagel. He usually plays as an advanced midfielder from the right hand side, has very quick feet and can beat players with ease. His delivery from the right hand side, and general unselfishness mean he is a very important part in creating goals and opportunities for others.

No doubt last year they outperformed expectations, and this year will be tougher. But they have made some decent signings, and some of their young stars could well improve again, so they should be looking to finish in the top 4 again, although 2nd place might be tougher this year.

Prediction - 3rd

If Glimt were a positive surprise last season, Rosenborg were completely the opposite. They started the season in awful form, failing to win any of their first eight games and finding themselves in the relegation zone. 

New manager Eirik Horneland struggled early on after arriving in January from Haugesund, but after week eight they found some rhythm, and lost only twice more in the remaining 22 games.

The main problem was a consistent goalscorer, with Alexander Søderlund, now moved on to Hacken in Sweden, top scorer with eight goals.

Other regulars to leave the club are midfielder Mike Jensen, winger David Akintola, and striker Bjørn Maars Johnsen, who Hearts fans might remember from a pretty unimpressive spell in the 2016/2017 season.

Jensen will be a big miss, the main man in midfield, a ball winner but also energetic and a good passer, they will need to replace his importance to the team.

The biggest and most successful club in Norway, from Trondheim in the middle of the country, will be hoping for a far better start to 2020 than 2019.

Samuel Adegbenro

Key Players - The longer the season went on the more Samuel Adegbenro seemed to be the go to player to create on the left wing. It was the 24 year old Nigerians second full season in Trondheim and by far his most impressive.

Short in stature, but strong on the ball and quick off the mark, his direct running usually causes problems for defenders. Although his final ball and finishing is sometimes wayward, and he can be a little selfish, he is a real threat that defenders struggle to deal with on his day.

The man that has been signed to hopefully score goals for Rosenborg is Montenegrin, Dino Islamovic. Although he has 1 cap for Sweden, he recently declared allegiance to Montenegro, and the 26 year old will be hoping to have a big year with RBK. 

The tall, left footed striker has the look of a top striker, but he has never really scored enough goals, so NOK 5 million(£400k) looks like a lot of money for someone who has never been in double figures in a league season.

He is strong, has a decent touch and a very powerful left foot, so he should score more, maybe with more quality around him he can beat the nine he scored for Ostersunds in 2018.

An interesting addition to the team is 20 year old winger Carlo Holse. Coming from FC København, the left footed youngster will be looking to make a big impression.

He loves cutting in on to his left foot and curling shots and crosses towards the far post. He has a good burst of pace too, so can go down the outside if shown too much space.

Used mostly as a substitute this season, he has decided to move to RBK, and the Danish youth international will compete with the extremely talented, but often unfit looking, Pål Andre Helland. 

The players are similar in style, although Helland is stronger and usually shoots with more power. It will be interesting to see who can make the right wing position their own in the first weeks of the season.

Kristoffer Zachariassen

In midfield, regular at Sarpsborg for the last three seasons, Kristoffer Zachariassen has also been signed and looks a good piece of business. 

He likes arriving late into the box, and although he doesn't have the same all round game as Jensen had, he offers energy and attacking intent from the middle of the park.

Defensively they have to be looking to keep more clean sheets than the six in 2019. Gustav Valsvik didn't impress last year, and indeed it was Tore Reginiussen, the 33 year old veteran that was the crucial defender. 

Maybe Valsvik will have a better second season after his move from Eintracht Braunschweig in Germany. Otherwise Reginiussen and Even Hovland, 31 years old, will have to have another year as the main partnership. Both lack pace, and it is a real issue for the defensive unit.

There will be some interest in the young talent at Lerkendal Stadion this year, and one of the interesting positions will be in goals. 

Andre Hansen has been number one choice now for five seasons, but there is a youngster that is being touted as a potential Norwegian goalkeeper of the future, waiting in the wings.

Julian Faye Lund played on loan at Mjøndalen last season and impressed most people, now only 20 years old he has played 3 full seasons, two with Levanger in OBOS-ligaen, and one in the top division with Mjøndalen.

He is likely to start as second choice, but could well be used if Hansen goes through a bad spell, or in cup games in 2020.

Other potential players to keep an eye on for having breakthrough years, are Erik Botheim, Emil Ceide, and Mikael Johnsen.

Of the three, Botheim looks most ready, and the 20 year old will be looking to push Islamovic for a start in the central striker position. He is more of a poacher than the Montenegrin, and looks like he could score goals if given a run in the team.

Rosenborg know they can't have the slow start that they did last year, and their form towards the end of the season suggests they should be challenging Molde this year.

I think they will run the champions close, and this could be a 2 way title race than can go all the way to November. They have the biggest budget in Norway, and the biggest crowd, but I have RBK down to just miss out to Molde in the end.

Prediction - 2nd
First Fixture - Brann (h) 5/4/2020

Eliteserien Preview - Norway's Potential Golden Generation

Eliteserien Preview – Taking a look at Norway

Erling Braut Haaland

With the emergence on to the world stage of Erling Braut Haaland in the last six months, and Martin Ødegaard beginning to fulfil his promise with Real Sociedad, there has been an increase in interest for Norwegian football lately. Added to that the possibility of meeting Scotland to qualify for the European Championships, this seemed like as good a time as any to start writing about the Eliteserien, Norway’s top tier football league.

First however, a quick look at Norway’s emerging talent, before the preview for the 2020 season begins next week.


It seems like Norway are on the verge of something, on the brink of confirming a golden generation. Not since 2000 have they qualified for a major tournament, but with a stellar crop of 18-21 year olds, it seems like this is about to change.

Haaland and Ødegaard have both already made their debuts, indeed Ødegaard has played over 20 times already. Kristoffer Ajer is a regular at Celtic and Sander Berge has just signed for Sheffield United after a successful three year spell at Genk, both are 22 this year.

Add in to that some familiar, experienced faces and players playing all over Europe, it is clear to see why they are favourites in the Euro playoffs to make it to the tournament proper. Defensively there definitely are issues, but the midfield and forward divisions they are improving quickly. Really they should be looking to qualify for the next three or four tournaments, based on the age and potential of the squad.

They have plenty firepower to add to Haaland, with Josh King and Alexander Sørloth both options in attack. Sørloth in particular has found form this year in Turkey, scoring 16 in 19 with Trabzonspor.

Håkon Evjen

A young player to keep an eye on that hasn’t quite broken in to the national team reckoning yet is Håkon Evjen. The under 21 international was recently signed up by AZ in the Eredivisie where he will join up with fellow Norwegian’s Jonas Svensson and Fredrik Midtsjø. Evjen was the player of the season in Norway last season at only 19 years old, scoring 13 goals from 29 games from midfield as he led Bodø/Glimt to an impressive second placed finish. 

Another couple of under 21 internationals that have shown promise the last season and earned a move to bigger clubs are Kritoffer Askildsen and Kristian Thorsvedt. Askildsen made 16 appearances at Stabæk last season, and the tall midfielder has earned a move to Sampdoria on the back his breakthrough campaign. Thorsvedt meanwhile was a real standout for Viking, one of the top attacking midfielders in the league, and the 20 year old has signed a deal at Genk, replacing Sander Berge. The left footer has a real eye for goal with his late runs in to the box, and his goal-scoring  prowess should translate well to the Belgian league.

At Genk he will be joining Mats Møller Dæhli who has recently moved after a good spell at St. Pauli in Bundesliga 2. He was at Cardiff City under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, but still only 24 he has taken some time to fulfil his obvious talent, and will now be hoping Genk is the ideal place to continue to rebuild his reputation after a wasted two years at Freiburg.

Since Norway met Scotland in World Cup ’98, neither have made it to a World Cup(Euro 2000 the last tournament for Norway). A one off game at Ullevaal Stadion, in front of a capacity 28’000 would be an incredible night for both teams. First Scotland need to beat Israel at home, and Norway have the tough task of beating Serbia in Oslo, five days before the final to see who qualifies for the Euros.

The Eliteserien threw up some surprises last year, and my preview of the season will begin next week with a look at the runaway champions from 2019, Molde, and also the surprise winners of the Norwegian Cup, Viking Stavanger.

Life in Norway

It would be nice to do an article about how the differences in the Norwegian football system benefits the league and enhances the fortunes of the national team, but unfortunately they are struggling just as much as Scotland, so I just have to write about the differences and separately try to dissect the continuing troubles of our countries football team.

I know one man will be happy I left Scottish football, but not so happy I wrote this. My friend told me in the summer I was linked with going back to Stirling Albion on a forum. One fan, seemingly unhappy with my previous spell there, wrote "Him and his blog can get to fuck", so mixed emotions for him, for which I apologise.

Football in Norway

Continuing my football career in Norway was always going to be something I would do when I knew I was moving here. But the truth is I had fallen out of love with football in Scotland, and grown tired of constant injury problems and having to trial or train with clubs to win contracts. If I had still be in Scotland I'm not sure if I would still be playing, even so it would have likely been out of the professional leagues. Injuries have been a problem ever since I started training full time, and they have only become more frequent in the last 3 years. The last time I felt genuinely fit and sharp was at Stirling Albion in 2013, when in the last 4 months of the season I managed to score 8 goals and help the team to promotion. Tearing my calf on the last game of the season with 15 minutes to go was the worst thing that could happen, as it resulted in a long term absence which didn't give me the chance to perform for Alloa. That season was a real regret for me, and although you try and keep a brave face and laugh off any jokes, it is not easy. Since then it has been a struggle to motivate myself for games and getting as fit as I need to be to play my best becomes almost impossible.
One thing that I do still enjoy is the training, and I am far too honest to turn up to training and not give 100%. I really hate it when players don't train hard or turn up to just mess around. I understand it should be up to the manager to ensure it isn't happening, but personal pride is really important for me and I will always give my best. To then see players who don't try at training continually given games is a real motivation drainer.
I had 3 months of no football and I really missed the training, so I decided I would go in to the local team here Levanger FK. At the time they were 3rd top of the 1st Division, which is the 2nd tier, so I knew it would be difficult to walk in and get a contract. After a week of training and basically nobody talking to me while they all spoke Norwegian, I realised I hated it. It was a chore to go in, so I stopped. I'm sure I wouldn't have been given a deal anyway, but I wasn't moving to Norway to be miserable. At this point I thought I was done with football, and saw it as an opportunity to move away from professional football as it wasn't making me happy anymore.
It was another 2 months before I touched a ball again, when I decided to go into another local team Verdal IL. They played 3rd division(4th tier)so I knew it would be slightly lower standard, but maybe it's what I needed. Turns out it was, and the last 2 months have been really enjoyable, training and playing with guys who love football and play because they want to. The standard is good, and next season will be somewhere close to League 2 in Scotland, which I am excited about and looking forward to a hard pre-season in the snow. There are young players in the team who will be scouted by teams in the region higher up the leagues, like Levanger and Ranheim, and possibly even Rosenborg, so it is a good opportunity for young players to develop by playing competitive games.
The pyramid league structure which is in place just now, meant that there were 88 teams at a higher level than Verdal, and 164 at the same level, with regionalisation of leagues. However with the new structure meaning only 2 leagues for the 2nd division, and 6 for the 3rd division, there will 60 clubs higher up the leagues and 80 at the same level. This in theory should mean no easy games like this year, and also less teams relegated from the higher leagues. Regionalising the leagues is important here because of the travel distance, so the structure is necessary otherwise you would have to fly to games which is not great for the budget of smaller clubs. One thing about the structure means that there is a clear pathway for teams for promote, and the leagues aren't so closed off like they are in Scotland with only 1 team able to promote into League 2, if they win a playoff. It is a good way to get young players playing competitive games at local clubs before they can then move on to bigger teams. It should mean that players have experience of senior football and gets them ready to step up, as opposed to playing under 21 football and getting a shock to the system when you have to step down a league or two and play against senior players who are playing for a job. It also gives players and clubs real incentive to do well, as there is a clear path to the top leagues and a chance to play against bigger teams.


Scotland - Is there a bright future?

If it isn't depressing enough that we haven't been at a major tournament since 1998, it seems that our national team is enjoying another trough in their graph of recent history. A last minute goal to salvage a draw against Lithuania was followed up by a thumping in Slovakia, and led to question marks over another managers future. I don't think there is any point in sacking Strachan, but that doesn't mean I think he is doing a good job. What would happen if he was sacked? Another manager comes in, plays 4231, or 451 away, fails to qualify and gets sacked. The pattern is repeated.
It is clear there is a lack of depth in terms of squad selection, but that doesn't mean there is a lack of talent. One problem I do have with Strachan is the way he talks to the media and treats the average Scotland fan like an idiot. Telling us we played well against Lithuania or before the game that it isn't must win is not smart, we can all see the truth in front of us.
Scotland has been crying out for a goalscorer for years, and we have one who consistently scores goals for the best team in our country. He has done throughout his career, yet for some reason he doesn't get his chance with Scotland. How can it make sense that Leigh Griffiths scores 40 goals in a season for our best club, but can't start for our national team? It doesn't, and to me it seems that there are other reasons for him not playing, and this is where Strachan annoys some supporters, with his stubbornness and his unwillingness to move away from his normal of Chris Martin or Fletcher up front on their own. Neither are at their best as a lone striker, both are very good at holding up the ball and linking play, but with  Griffiths poaching goals and taking chances it would be far more effective than what it currently is.
We have good midfielders to supply them, and promising full backs, but our central defense is a real weakness, so to score goals is important as we are not keeping any clean sheets.
Here is what my team would be for the next game, but maybe we need to start blooding some youth for our future:

I think a back 3 would help keep clean sheets, and it would not include Grant Hanley, who for me isn't good enough. 4th choice defender in a Championship club should not be an automatic pick for our country. Christophe Berra has had a lot of praise from Mick McCarthy, and I would play him. One player who I played with, Murray Wallace, is someone I always thought would be a future Scotland player. He is a regular at Scunthorpe who are top of League 1, and I know he is better than Hanley, I hope he has a future in the Scotland team. Stephen Kingsley has also been playing for Swansea and I can see him developing into the left central defender position.
Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney are both great options at left wing back, and I like the pace and directness of Oliver Burke. He is young and a little raw, but you can see he is a threat, and hopefully being in Germany his technical side will improve and also his defensive positioning should get better.
Our midfield 3 will work hard, and we also have the quality of Ritchie and Snodgrass who can both pick a pass and score from distance.
I think the strikers will link up well, plus we have McCormack, who should be in the squad, or Naismith to make an impact from the bench.
It seems that every manager we get plays the exact same system, and it doesn't work. It would be nice to see a change to try and change our fortunes. The way it is going just now we won't be at Russia 2018, and with our seeding for the Euro qualifiers it will be difficult again to get through the groups.
It might be time to let older players move on, like Fletcher, Martin, Maloney and Morrison, to see if we can give younger players games and get used to playing on the international level. It is getting towards 2 generations of players who have failed to make it to a major championship, it is time to change something or we will continue to disappoint and be an easy 3 points for half the countries we play against, bigger or smaller.

Euro 2016 - My Preview

Hello to all who have missed my blog that ceased to exist for a couple of years, and to others who may be reading what I write for the first time. Apologies for the lack of activity, I'd like to make a good excuse but I don't have one.
However, this is a perfect platform to tell all who read, that I am planning a move to Norway in July, and that the blog is a perfect place to keep people up to date with my football which I hope to continue doing out there. I figure that if you are interested enough to read this, a small update about football in Norway could be a nice way to introduce most of you to Norwegian lower league football and also let you know how I am doing.
First though, since it is tomorrow that France kick off Euro 2016 against Romania, I thought I'd do a personal preview just for myself to gain information on all the teams, and also so I can share my opinion on potential winners, surprise packages and players I expect to light up France this Summer.

 Euro 2016

Another major tournament has come upon us without Scotland, so it is time to get supporting someone else again, or just enjoying the football. I always find it difficult to support the other home nations in football, probably because they are our close rivals, and also because I have no real ties to the other countries. However with my old driving partner and teammate Mikey McGovern likely to be playing for Northern Ireland I'll definitely be rooting for him to keep some clean sheets and have a great tournament.
I think I should start with some players that I am excited to watch, and my tips for Golden Boot and Player of the tournament.

5 players to watch 

Trying to avoid the obvious world stars, here are my 5 players to look out for to have big tournaments.

Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Turkey - 18 caps 6 goals) 

Çalhanoğlu is one of the big talents currently playing in the Bundesliga, and possibly gained a bit more attention with his goal in the recent friendly against England. At 22, the Leverkusen attacking midfielder has a big future, and I think this Euros is a chance for him to show he is one of the most promising players in Europe, and earn himself a big move. His dead ball skills are second to none. His free kicks are incredible and his corners are almost always causing trouble. Added to that he has good pace, great technical ability and an eye for goal. Turkey are in a hard group with Spain, Czech Republic and Croatia, but they have a good recent Euros record and with players like Çalhanoğlu, progression is definitely possible.

Radja Nainggolan (Belgium - 19 caps 4 goals)

Nainggolan is one of many Belgium players that have come through together and look set to have a serious go at winning this Euros. He currently plays for Roma and he is a regular for Marc Wilmots in the Belgium starting team. He is a great foil for the creative players that Belgium have, like Hazard, De Bruyne and Mertens. He is very combative in midfield, but like most players brought up playing in Italy, is exceptional on the ball with and very comfortable taking it in tight areas. He is hugely important for Belgium, and I expect him to have an important role to play breaking up attacks and also being crucial to starting attacks for a team that other teams will allow to have possession of the ball. He has been linked to the Premier League, most noticeably with Chelsea, and if he has a good tournament his price tag will go up again and I;m sure more teams will come calling for his signature. He will be hard to miss with his distinctive hair, which makes it easy to keep an eye on what he does for his team against the ball and appreciate how hard he works for his team.

Anthony Martial (France - caps 9 goals 0)

Martial has burst onto the scene this year, and yes he cost the best part of £50million, but he is only 20 years old and I like what I have seen. I can see him having a huge tournament for France with his pace and directness. It's something that is quite unusual in the modern game to see players being as direct as him while dribbling, and it is great to watch. I think away from the Man United scene he will be more free to do what he is good at, and not have so many defensive duties demanded of him. His finishing is strong inside the box, and he makes good quick runs in between defenders. I can see him scoring 3 or 4 goals this year and taking France deep into the tournament.

Dele Alli (England - caps 8 goals 1)

Dele Alli has been in great form for Tottenham this season, and I expect it to continue into the Euros. He has great timing of runs into the box which is quite similar to Lampard when he was young. However he has more pace than Lampard and also links up very well with Harry Kane which should be utilised by England. Alli is perfect for the role behind Kane if he is allowed to play it instead of Rooney. One weakness is his willingness to get involved with other players when the wind him up. It's an issue that could easily come to bite him in this tournament, so he could potentially become another Rooney or Beckham. But I think if he can get into advanced positions with the ball, keep his composure and link up with Kane, he should be one of England's best players this Summer.

David Alaba (Austria - caps 46 goals 11)

Alaba is a regular for Bayern Munich, but he mostly plays in defence, or in a deeper role. However when he plays with Austria he has a bit more license to get forward, where he chipped in with 4 goals in qualification. His left foot is one of the best in the game, and he regularly tries his luck from long range, usually with a lot of power. Austria qualified really well, winning 9 and drawing 1 of their 10 games and Alaba is their main man. In a group with Iceland, Hungary and Portugal, they should be able to get through, if not even top the group. Alaba can be the catalyst for what could be a strong tournament for the Austrians, and he seems to relish playing more advanced where can show off his passing, shooting and dribbling in the final third.


Golden Boot

The Top Goalscorer for the Euro 2012 only scored 3 goals, that was shared with 6 different players. This year with the extra game, it should be more likely to be 5 or 6 goals that wins it. Only Platini in 1984 when he scored 9, has scored more than 5 in a European Championships. With the extension of the competition to 24 teams, it does look noticeably weaker, so I think it gives potential for someone to get a hat-trick in the group stages and push on from there. With the trend towards 1 striker it means not many players are in with a big shout, however there are a few midfielders that could score plenty goals for their countries. Looking at the groups, I think that Ronaldo and Griezmann both have big chances to score 3 or 4 goals in the groups before adding to them in the knockouts. However my pick for top scorer, is Harry Kane. He had a great season again for Spurs, and he is definitely the first choice striker for England. I think they have a good group that they should be able to score goals in, and that they could go quite deep in this tournament. At around 14/1 I think he is a good bet to at least get close.


Champions

Spain went into Euro 2012 as big favourites, and rightfully so, they were by far the strongest team. This year however it appears to be much more open. Germany appear to be in a bit of transition despite only winning the World Cup 2 years ago, and Spain are not as good as they were 4 years ago. Italy look as weak as they have done for many years, so they shouldn't be challenging. I think Austria will be a big surprise to most this year. They come in on great form, they have a strong team, and should get through their group no problem. A place in the Quarter Final is very likely in my opinion. But the winners I think are going to be France. They seem to be coming to their home tournament with the strongest squad they have had since 2000 when they won it. Pogba and Matuidi are a great central midfield partnership, they provide the more defensive cover to let players like Griezmann, Martial and Payet play further forward. One potential issue is Benzema not being there, But Giroud can score goals and I really like his movement, plus there will be goals from midfield. Lloris is one of the top 3 goalkeepers in the world, and they have some pace in defensive and good experience. It looks like a team that can win a tournament, and with the backing of the home support, I fancy them to do it.

All that is left to say is, enjoy the tournament, it should be a belter. See you next time when I will be in Norway, hopefully playing football and keeping you up to date with my life. Please comment and let me know what you think of my opinions, and if anyone wants to visit me in Norway, I'm pretty sure we can arrange that. It will be interesting leaving Scottish football for something else, but it is really exciting and I am looking forward to not only starting a new chapter in my life, but starting a new part of my career.